I've discovered a new place for a pre-ride espresso. The Starbucks I'd been going to for probably ten years closed. Good espresso on my side of town isn't a given like it is on the east side. Then I learned of a place that served Nossa Familia beans. (High quality Brazilian beans from a famy owned farm imported by the son who relocated to Portland.)

So now my first miles are down streets I never rode before, stopping at "Well and Good" in an office park and getting shots of really high quality espresso.

my gf buys some pre-ground flavored coffee. it's not horrible but i can't get her to get up and hand grind the fresh roasted beans. i usually do that on the weekends as a treat. we drink maxwell house at work because no one will hand grind beans here either.

Mike, I had two revelations in my racing days that would forever set boundaries around what coffee I drink. White sugar (sucrose) is, for me, a drug with a performance high and crash and milk doesn't belong in my body. (Milk and cream. If it is cultured to yogurt or cheese, it's fine.)

That was 1977. When in 1984 my cousin/chef turned me on to excellent coffee/espresso, it was always a given it would be black, perhaps with a little honey, or straight shots. If it was to be adulterated, it would be honey. Soy milk cappuccinos work but I rarely get them.

My home ritual - grind a 1/2 cup of beans 20 seconds, press into a SS"6 cup" mocha pot and brew. Makes one large cup of real coffee. Drinking it now.

We bought the single shot Starbucks machine and a burr grinder. Illy coffee is our favourite blend. It is a lighter Italian roast. Eventually we bought a Saeco Magic plus automatic espresso machine. Pour the water in tank A and the beans in B. press 1 button and consistently great 6 oz Americano's. I still use sugar and cream but less and less. I'd especially like to drop the cream but have not found a substitute acceptable to my pallet.

Never drank coffee. Went to Italy in my 30's. I had espresso and been hooked since. Wife bought me a Saeco ten years ago. That thing rocks. It takes whole beans or grounds. I fire that puppy up every morning for a few shots.